Kang Kyung-ho

In this Korean name, the family name is Kang.

Kang Kyung-Ho 강경호（姜京鎬）
200px Kang Kyung-Ho on February 22, 2013.
Born	(1987-09-09) September 9, 1987 Pusan, South Korea
Native name	강경호（姜京鎬）
Other names	Mr. Perfect Typhoon
Height	5 ft 9 in
Weight	135 lb
Division	Bantamweight (2011–present) Featherweight (2009–2011) Lightweight (2007–2008)
Reach	72 in
Style	Ssireum, BJJ, Taekwondo
Fighting out of	Busan, South Korea
Team	Busan Team M.A.D.
Rank	Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Yang Sung-hoon
Years active	2007–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	31
Wins	19
By knockout	2
By submission	12
By decision	5
Losses	11
By knockout	1
By submission	1
By decision	8
By disqualification	1
No contests	1
Other information
University	Dong-Eui University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Korean name
Hangul	강경호 (姜京鎬）
Revised Romanization	Gang Gyeong-ho
McCune–Reischauer	Kang Gyŏng-ho

Kang Kyung-ho (Korean: 강경호, born September 9, 1987), often anglicized Kyung Ho Kang, is a South Korean mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC's bantamweight division.

Background

Kang started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2006, proceeding rapidly to mixed martial arts. He graduated from Dong-Eui University, majoring in physical education and physiology.

Career

Kang started his professional career in 2007. He fought mainly for international promotions, such as Spirit Martial Challenge, Art of War and DEEP.

Road Fighting Championship

Kang faced Shoko Sato in the quarterfinal match of ROAD FC bantamweight tournament on March 24, 2012, at Road FC 7. He won via submission due to an armbar in the second round.

In the semifinal on June 16, 2012, at Road FC 8, Kang faced Jae Hoon Moon. He won via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the second round. On the same day, Kang faced Andrew Leone in the final. Once again Kang won via submission due to a rear-naked choke in round two and was crowned the first-ever Road FC bantamweight champion.

In July 2012, it was announced that Kang had signed a contract to compete in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Kang was expected to face Alex Caceres on November 10, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV: Franklin vs. Le. However, Kang was removed from the event due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Motonobu Tezuka.

Kang/Caceres finally took place on March 3, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann. Caceres originally won the fight via split decision, but the result was later changed to a no contest after Caceres tested positive for marijuana.

Kang faced Chico Camus on August 31, 2013, at UFC 164. He lost the fight via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27).

Kang faced Shunichi Shimizu on January 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night: Saffiedine vs. Lim. He won the fight via submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the third round.

Kang was expected to face Chris Holdsworth on May 24, 2014, at UFC 173. However, Kang pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Chico Camus.

Kang faced Michinori Tanaka on September 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 52. He won the fight via split decision, and both fighters would earn Fight of the Night honors for their efforts.

Kang put a hold on his career to serve his two-year commitment for mandatory South Korean military service. In December 2017 he returned from hiatus to face Guido Cannetti on January 14, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Kang faced Ricardo Ramos on August 4, 2018, at UFC 227. He lost the fight by split decision.

Kang faced Teruto Ishihara on February 10, 2019, at UFC 234. He won the fight via a submission in round one.

Kang faced Brandon Davis on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241. He won the fight via split decision.

Kang faced Liu Pingyuan on December 21, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 23. He won the fight via split decision.

Kang was scheduled to face Rani Yahya on July 31, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 28. However the bout was cancelled a few hours before happening due to Yahya testing positive for COVID-19. The bout was ultimately rebooked to take place on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 198. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Kang was scheduled to face Saimon Oliveira on June 11, 2022, at UFC 275. However, Oliveira withdrew from the event for unknown reasons and he was replaced by Danaa Batgerel. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Kang faced Cristian Quiñonez on June 17, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 47. He won the bout in the first round, submitting Cristian via rear-naked choke in the first round after knocking him down with a punch.

Kang was initially scheduled to face John Castañeda on November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232. However, the bout was shifted to take place one week earlier on November 11, 2023, at UFC 295. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Kang faced Muin Gafurov on June 22, 2024, at UFC on ABC 6. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Personal life

Kang and his wife have a son (born 2022).

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• ROAD Fighting Championship
  • ROAD FC bantamweight title (one time)
  • ROAD FC bantamweight tournament winner (2012)
• Spirit Martial Challenge
  • Go! Super-Korean season three winner
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Michinori Tanaka

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
31 matches	19 wins	11 losses
By knockout	2	1
By submission	12	1
By decision	5	8
By disqualification	0	1
No contests	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	19–11 (1)	Muin Gafurov	Decision (unanimous)	UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov	June 22, 2024	3	5:00	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Loss	19–10 (1)	John Castañeda	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 295	November 11, 2023	3	5:00	New York City, New York, United States	Catchweight (138 lb) bout.
Win	19–9 (1)	Cristian Quiñonez	Submission (rear-naked choke)	UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier	June 17, 2023	1	2:25	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	18–9 (1)	Danaa Batgerel	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 275	June 11, 2022	3	5:00	Kallang, Singapore
Loss	17–9 (1)	Rani Yahya	Decision (unanimous)	UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate	November 20, 2021	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	17–8 (1)	Liu Pingyuan	Decision (split)	UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie	December 21, 2019	3	5:00	Busan, South Korea
Win	16–8 (1)	Brandon Davis	Decision (split)	UFC 241	August 17, 2019	3	5:00	Anaheim, California, United States
Win	15–8 (1)	Teruto Ishihara	Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)	UFC 234	February 10, 2019	1	3:59	Melbourne, Australia
Loss	14–8 (1)	Ricardo Ramos	Decision (split)	UFC 227	August 4, 2018	3	5:00	Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	14–7 (1)	Guido Cannetti	Submission (triangle choke)	UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi	January 14, 2018	1	4:53	St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Win	13–7 (1)	Michinori Tanaka	Decision (split)	UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson	September 20, 2014	3	5:00	Saitama, Japan	Fight of the Night.
Win	12–7 (1)	Shunichi Shimizu	Submission (arm-triangle choke)	UFC Fight Night: Saffiedine vs. Lim	January 4, 2014	3	3:53	Marina Bay, Singapore
Loss	11–7 (1)	Chico Camus	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 164	August 31, 2013	3	5:00	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
NC	11–6 (1)	Alex Caceres	NC (overturned)	UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann	March 3, 2013	3	5:00	Saitama, Japan	Originally a split decision win for Caceres; overturned after he tested positive for marijuana.
Win	11–6	Andrew Leone	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Road FC 008: Bitter Rivals	June 16, 2012	2	1:19	Wonju, South Korea	Won the inaugural Road FC Bantamweight Championship. Road FC 2012 Bantamweight Tournament Final.
Win	10–6	Moon Jae-hoon	Submission (rear-naked choke)			2	4:27		Road FC 2012 Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win	9–6	Shoko Sato	Submission (armbar)	Road FC 007: Recharged	March 24, 2012	2	2:38	Seoul, South Korea	Road FC 2012 Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Loss	8–6	Andrew Leone	Technical Decision (unanimous)	Road FC 006: The Final Four	February 5, 2012	3	5:00	Seoul, South Korea	Kang had one point deducted per round for missing weight.
Win	8–5	Song Min-jung	Submission (armbar)	Road FC 005: Night of Champions	December 3, 2011	1	4:55	Seoul, South Korea
Win	7–5	Lee Kil-woo	TKO (corner stoppage)	Road FC 003: Explosion	July 24, 2011	1	0:52	Seoul, South Korea	Bantamweight debut.
Loss	6–5	Kwon Bae-young	Submission (triangle armbar)	Road FC 002: Alive	April 16, 2011	1	4:05	Seoul, South Korea
Win	6–4	Kazutoshi Fujita	Submission (rear-naked choke)	GRACHAN 5	November 7, 2010	1	2:10	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	5–4	Munehiro Kin	DQ (knee to downed opponent)	GLADIATOR 11	October 9, 2010	1	4:56	Tokyo, Japan
Win	5–3	Makoto Kamaya	Submission (rear-naked choke)	KOF: The Beginning of Legend	April 24, 2010	3	4:19	Jinju, South Korea
Loss	4–3	Shigeki Osawa	Decision (unanimous)	Sengoku 12	March 7, 2010	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	4–2	Atsushi Yamamoto	Decision (unanimous)	Deep: Fan Thanksgiving Festival 2	November 10, 2009	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan	Catchweight (63 kg) bout.
Win	4–1	Ning Guangyou	Submission (triangle choke)	AOW 13: Rising Force	July 18, 2009	1	7:34	Beijing, China	Featherweight debut.
Win	3–1	Kim Nam-sun	TKO (doctor stoppage)	Spirit MC 17: All In	June 29, 2008	1	4:08	Seoul, South Korea
Loss	2–1	Lee Kwang-hee	KO (soccer kicks)	Spirit MC 14: Karma	January 20, 2008	1	2:45	Seoul, South Korea	For the Spirit MC Welterweight (155 lb) Championship.
Win	2–0	Jang Duk-young	Submission (triangle choke)	Spirit MC 13: Heavyweight GP Final	October 14, 2007	1	2:45	Seoul, South Korea
Win	1–0	So Jae-hyun	Decision (unanimous)	Spirit MC 11: Invasion	April 22, 2007	2	5:00	Seoul, South Korea	Lightweight debut.

Filmography

Television show

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2022	The First Business in the World	Contestant

See also

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

External links

• Kyung Ho Kang on UFC.com
• Professional MMA record for Kyung Ho Kang from Sherdog